AMES, Iowa -- Iowa communities with populations below 10,000 are invited to
apply for a community visioning program offered by Iowa State University's
department of landscape architecture in partnership with Trees Forever.

Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program: A Transportation
Enhancement Program is a planning process that encourages visionary and
strategic thinking about landscape improvement. The final outcome is a
conceptual landscape plan that graphically illustrates the vision of the
community leaders and volunteers.

The program targets smaller communities, particularly those without design
and planning services readily available. Parks, roadsides, open spaces,
trails, wayside parks, entryways and other sites fit program criteria.

During the visioning process, participants gain an understanding of the
community and its landscape, create concept plans to enhance community
transportation corridors and develop a strategy to implement those concepts.

Twelve communities will be selected. A review team of Iowa Department of
Transportation
experts, private-sector landscape architects, Trees Forever field
coordinators and ISU project staff will select the communities based on the
following criteria: community goals that reflect the goals of the visioning
program, a demonstrated need for assistance, the support and commitment of
the community, the ability to provide a $1,000 cash or in-kind match for
implementation and the overall quality and completeness of the application.
Selections will be announced in November.

Applications are available from Trees Forever, (800) 369-1269. Completed
applications must be postmarked by Oct.15. For more information, contact
Trees Forever or the landscape architecture department at Iowa State, (515)
294-3721.

Since 1996, 87 Iowa communities have participated in the Iowa's Living
Roadways Community Visioning Program. The program is funded by the Iowa DOT
in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.